• American College of Musicians

    American College of Musicians

    National Guild of Piano Teachers
  • Ratings
    16 more A than Checks ......................................................................................... Failing
    (See P. 25 for description of a "failed" Guild programs.)
     
    Faimily Circle Rating
    (A student is comfortable performing in a family setting but is not ready to be relaxed playing public.)
    More A than Cchecks .........................................................................................  Fair
         
    Room Circle Rating
    (A student is prepared to perform before non-critical peers in a classroom setting at school.)
    No more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Good
    1 more C thank A check ......................................................................................... Good
    2 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Good
    3 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Good
    4 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Good
    5 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Very Good
    6 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Very Good
         
    School Circle Rating
    (A student has prepared and performed well enough to represent his/her school in a local musical program.)
    7 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Excellent
    8 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Excellent
    9-10 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Excellent
         
    Citywide Circle Rating
    (A student's performance is very polished and qualifies him/her to represent his/her school in a citywide or countywide competition.)
    11 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Excellent Plus
    12-13 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Excellent Plus
    14-17 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Superior Minus
    18-21 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Superior
    22-27 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Superior
         
    Top-Talent Circle Rating
    (The student is musically and technically superior pianist, qualiffied to perform anywhere before a critical audience, including newspaper critics.)
    28-35 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Superior Plus
    36-43 more C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Superior Plus
    44 (or more) C thank A checks ......................................................................................... Superior Plus
         
    Hobbyist Ratings
    A grade ......................................................................................... Superior
    B grade ......................................................................................... Excellent
    C grade ......................................................................................... Good
    D grade ......................................................................................... Fair
    F grade ......................................................................................... Failing
    Hobbyist participants (auditioning with music) are adjudicated on a "letter grade" basis. The "Circle" ratign do not apply to these students.
    NOTE: WHEREAS FAMILY, ROOM, AND SCHOOL CIRCLES ARE "FRIENDLY," NON-CRITICAL. GROUPS BEFORE WHOM ANYONE CAN PERFOR WITHOUT DEVASTATING RESULTS, THE CITYWIDE AND TOP-TALENT CRCLES DEMAND OUTSTANDING COMPOSURE AND PERFOMANCES.

    Dealing with "Undesireable" Ratings

    Occasionally, a teacher or student may believe a rating to be "undesirable" and, therefore, devastating to the student. Insuch a case, Guild recommends:

    1. Teachers may average the last three or more years of ratings in order to help the student maintain a healthy, positive outlook.
    2. Although his will not technically change the current rating, it will help the student accept constrctive criticism, as well as encourage the student in his/her future piano study.
    3. These "averaged grades" may not be submitted for ACM Teacher Cerfification or Student Scholastic Awards. Only judge-awarded grades are acceptable. 

    NOTE:

    THE SOLE PURPOSE OF "GRADE aVERAGING" IS FOR THE EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF THE STUDENT A DOS NOT, IN ANY WAY, ALTER THE OFFICIAL GRADE AWARDED BY THE JUDGE.

     

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